Acting Director of Health and Wellness Speaks on Use of Ivermectin
Dr. Melissa Diaz
The Ministry of Health and Wellness earlier this month authorized the use of Ivermectin to treat patients suffering from COVID-19. The drug is typically used to treat many types of parasite infestations such as head lice and scabies. Studies have shown that Ivermectin has broad-spectrum anti-viral activity, reducing symptoms, as well as the activity of the virus. There is also evidence that Ivermectin can be used as prevention. And while that may be so, Acting Director of Health Services Doctor Melissa Diaz says that Ivermectin is not a cure for the disease.
Dr. Melissa Diaz, Acting Director of Health Services
“It is a medication that has been around for many, many years. It has been used as an anti parasitic medication since the 1980s and it has a very good safety profile. From earlier on this year many articles have been published and shown and spread on Google and the World Wide Web to show that it has some efficacy against this virus multiplying in our system. When we’ve looked at guidance even over the last six weeks there are many more positive responses for the drug ivermectin in many countries. So, we know that people have been looking and researching and people have been taking varied dosages in Belize City trying to get this medication, trying to get the injectables and after our medical response tam discussed it, we felt that there was enough evidence. In fact there is a group of critical care physicians in the US who has placed it in their regular protocols in the US. It is not only there. It is being used in Australia, in South America in many countries. For that reason, we at the Ministry of Health and Wellness decided that it would be best to put it in on our protocols in order to guide the dosages, guide the use of the medication. I made it clear that it is off license. It is not license for COVID but it has been shown to improved cases. If you look at the flip side, it is a cost effective medication. It is easy to access. It has a very good safety profile and it has been shown to have good efficiency and effectivity on the virus.”
